THE BLUE STALKER (11 page)

Maria and Juan looked like miniature people as they set back in the big chairs. 

             
After discussing the procedure Mr. Robbins escorted them to a side room where a federal agent finger printed them.

             
“In honor of your dad the federal department in the city sent Ms. Wright over to fingerprint you, she will hand carry it back to the federal department.  This will expedite everything.  Your ‘green card’ will be approved and mailed to you.”  He told them.

             
“Is that all there is to it Juan asked?” 

             
“It doesn’t seem like much but we have been working on this for days.  It’s quite involved.  Ms. Smith must be financially able to sponsor you.  We had to run a check on you, Maria and Ms. Smith.  Since your son is an infant all we need is his finger prints and you can take him to the Department of Motor Vehicles when he is feeling better but the sooner the better.”  he told them.

             
“We will get everything taken care of next week.”  Ella interjected.

             
“Thank you very much, Mr. Robbins.   Do you have the bill ready for me?”  she asked.

             
“Oh no, Ms. Smith this is all taken care of in honor of your father.” 

             
Needless to say Ella was over whelmed. 

             
“Thank you so much.  I know Dad is smiling down on you.”

             
“I didn’t know your dad very well.  I was just out of college and working as a paralegal in the office when he died.  But I’ve heard many good things about him.”  Mr. Robbins said with a nice smile.

             
It was an interesting ride back to the airport.  Each was joyously talking over the other. 

Maria fell asleep on Juan’s shoulder as they flew home.  Ella read a magazine from cover to cover thinking about the good times she had in that office high above San Francisco when she was a young child.  Juan and Maria will be marking today in their memory book as one of the many happy days in their life.

             
“Maria, Ella said, “tomorrow Jose’s furniture will be delivered.  Remember to tell the delivery men where you want everything.”

             
“Okay, Ms Ella, I’ve been thinking we should have the crib in our room until Jose is better.  I would worry with him in the other room.”  Maria told Ella.

             
“You are right and such a good mother.  We can always move the crib when you want Jose in his own room” Ella said.

             
The next day Maria heard a knock at the door.  She could see the delivery truck from the nursery furniture store in the driveway.  She ran downstairs opening the door there stood two men with their arms full.

             
“We have your new furniture.”  the shorter guy said.

             
“Good, put it in the first bedroom upstairs on the right. The crib will go in the master bedroom around the hall to the right.” Maria told them.

Maria waited downstairs as piece by piece they carried the furniture upstairs. Juan came home to furniture setting in the middle of the bedroom.

             
“Maria, what’s this?  Why didn’t the delivery men place the furniture where you wanted it placed?  Juan asked

             
“It’s my fault,” she began to cry, “I didn’t feel comfortable with them in the house so I stayed near the front door. I guess that was silly of me.”

             
“No, not at all when you feel something there usually a reason.  I’m glad you were cautious.” Juan told her as he wiped the tears from her cheeks with his shirt sleeve. In a short while Juan had the furniture place around the room.  They were ready for their son to come home.

EIGHT

             
Ella stood back looking at the hard work she and Juan put into her new flower shop. Juan made the two work tables with a Formica top on each and he finished with the shelving and painted everything.  Ella ordered a front counter with a nice display case for the costume jewelry she planned to sale.  She called in a refrigeration man to set up the cooler box.  Everything was picture perfect except for the back room.  There was lost of work to be done in the back room but that could happen as time permitted.  Right now Ella needed to purchase merchandise.  The San Francisco Gift Show would be in a couple weeks and she planned to attend. 

             
Meanwhile, she visited the local flower vendors setting up accounts.  The flower trucks would be dropping in on Ella three times a week.  The wholesale floral supply store was conveniently located in Baker.  Their delivery truck makes a weekly delivery.  Coopersville was centrally located making it convenient for a flower shop.  By weeks end Ella had her accounts set up and suppliers ready to start with their deliveries.

             
She placed an ad in the local paper in need of a floral designer.  First day she received a few calls.  She set up appointments and began interviewing the next day.  She didn’t interview anyone she thought would be good for the shop.

A large woman with red hair abruptly walked in the store.  She didn’t have an appointment. 

             
“Do you have an appointment for an interview?”  Ella asked the big woman with the red hair.

             
“Nope!  I need a job and I’m a damn good designer.  I recently moved to Coopersville from Los Angeles to be near my kids.  Their grown, pa flew the coop years ago.  No need for me to be alone.” 

She seemed to tell her life history in one big breath.

             
“I don’t have flowers for you to show me you’re designing talent.”  Ella told her.

“Aint no need, I have pictures.”  She said as she pulled a scrap book of floral design awards from her oversized purse.

             
“My, my you are very talented.”  Ella said with her mouth dropping open.

             
“I’m good and I’m anxious to go to work.”  Alicia said.

             
“You’re hired.”  Before Ella could catch the words were flying out of her mouth.

             
Alicia was rough around the edges and Ella was sure she had a foul mouth but maybe she could tame her a little.  Anyway, she’s got spunk.  Ella likes a woman with an opinion. 

             
They discussed salary and work hours.  Ella tried to throw in some work ethics.

             
“Ella, you don’t have to worry about my mouth.  I know how to conduct myself in front of customers.”  Alicia told her as she strutted across the floor.

             
“Good Alicia, I know you’ve been around the block a few times.”  Ella told her.

             
“Honey, I’ve been around more than one block.  Alicia told her with a big heehaw laugh. “You’re gonna need someone to take care of the front.  I’m a designer, not a sales person.  And don’t get some young chick that only wants to talk on the phone.”  Alicia told her. 

             
The way Alicia was giving orders you would think she owned the place.

“You’re right. I’ll find someone good with the public, someone that can help us out in the back room.  Someone that doesn’t mind getting their hands dirty.”  Ella said.

             
Ella interviewed a few ladies to work the front of the shop and wasn’t happy with any of them.  One morning she noticed a woman standing at the front window of the store looking at the ‘help wanted’ sign.  The young lady put her shoulders back and proceeded to march into the store.

             
“Hello, I’m Susan Mills.  I saw your help wanted sign in the window.  I need a job.  I don’t know much about flowers but I can learn.  I’ve been in sales for years.”  The young lady told Ella crossing her arms as she stepped back.

             
She certainly has a nice presence about her.  Ella thought and a welcoming smile with friendly eyes.  What more could she ask for.

             
Ella talked with Susan Mills and the more they talked the more she realized this woman was genuine.  A true soul in need of a job.  Susan and her husband Ron moved here a few months back.  They rented a house on Fifth Street when they first arrived in town but soon they couldn’t pay the rent. 

             
“We were practically on the street when Ron met a man and he offered his assistance.”  Susan told her.  “Our church family helped us with bringing food over.”  Ella knew she couldn’t take on another family but she could give Susan a job.

             
They discussed the salary and what was expected of her.  Ella had the crew put together except for a delivery guy.  She mentioned to Susan she needed a delivery person.

             
“My husband would make a good delivery person and he certainly needs a job.”  Susan told Ella.

             
“Ask him to come by this afternoon and I will talk with him.”  Ella told Susan as she showed her to the door.

             
“Work won’t start for a couple weeks.  Will you be okay until then?”  Ella asked.

“I think so, we can manage.  Susan told her closing the door behind as she made her way home to give her husband the good news.

             
Ella asked Alicia and Susan to accompany her to San Francisco for a weekend of buying at the wholesale gift show.  A semi annual event for retail stores to view and order merchandise.  The each accepted the offer after Ella assured them the weekend was on her.  They took the station wagon to San Francisco.  There would be many things Ella could bring back for the store.  Although most items would be shipped.  “Be sure you wear good walking shoes.”  Ella warned the ladies.  “There will be a lot of walking for two full days.”

             
Ella and the ladies arrived at their downtown hotel in the early evening.  They shared a suite with two beds and a fold out sofa.  Ella threw her luggage on the sofa and told the ladies to pick out a bed.

             
Susan spoke up, “Oh no, I’ll take the sofa you sleep on the bed,”

             
“Nonsense, the sofa will work just fine for me.”  Ella told her as she plopped down bouncing on the sofa.

             
“You don’t have to offer the bed twice to me.  I’ll take the bed.  I’m older than you ladies and need the rest.”  Alicia gave out a deep loud heehaw laugh. 

             
“Whatever you say.”  Susan agreed. 

             
“Let’s get unpacked and then get some dinner, I’m famished.  Ella told them.

             
“I’m so hungry I can feel my ribs.”  Alicia said as she rubbed the bulge hanging over her tight pants.

             
“You are quite the lady, Alicia.  Ella laughed.

             
The ladies located a restaurant in the hotel.  Ella ordered a Caesar Salad, Susan ordered a hamburger and for Alicia, she order a full course meal.  Alicia is not bashful she says it like she sees it.  Ella learned a lot about the ladies as the weekend unfolded.  She hired two very different personalities but each had their positive points.  Ella formed a good team she thought to herself. 

             
At many of the vendor’s displays, Ella purchased and the ladies filled their arms with merchandise, they made several trips to the room as the day of shopping progressed.  Alicia gave Ella good ideas on vases and other items for the floral designing.  Susan didn’t know much about floral supplies but had a good e ye for costume jewelry.  Most of the purchases would be delivered to the store.  Ella didn’t thing the merchandise would arrive for a couple weeks but most of the vendors told her they would ship on the following Monday.

             
Monday morning after a good breakfast the ladies packed their bags.  Ella called for a couple of bellhops and two carriers. 

             
There was a knock at the door.  Alicia greeted the bell hops with, “Boys you’ve got your work cut out for you.”

The room was full of boxes.  The two young men looked stunned.

             
“You want us to carry all this stuff to your car?”  He said looking over to his work partner.